MISENHEIMER – On Sept. 15, Pfeiffer University paid tribute to three longtime current and former faculty members dubbed “Gems of Pfeiffer” for their outstanding contributions to the institution and its students.
Honored were Dr. Joel Vickers, professor and former director of Pfeiffer’s master’s of health administration program; Coach Joe Ferebee, baseball coach and history professor from 1956-1987; and posthumously, Ray Harrington, assistant professor of criminal justice and assistant softball coach.
The event, which was held at the Grandover Resort, Greensboro, was hosted by Chris Bramlett, Pfeiffer trustee and certified gemologist, and attended by 135 guests, including trustees, alumni and representatives of the fields the honorees lead.
“It’s a privilege to honor these outstanding individuals who are exemplary educators and coaches, and whose stories are deeper and richer than those labels,” said Pfeiffer President Michael C. Miller during his remarks. “They’ve understood better than most the crucial role their vision plays in the success of any strategic plan, curriculum design or recruiting endeavor. Vision is something they have plenty of – along with absolutely no fear of the hard work required to meet the promise of that vision.”
Pfeiffer’s master’s of health administration program is the largest in the Carolinas, with 1,200 alumni and whose graduates hold positions of executive leadership in every major healthcare system in North and South Carolina. The university’s baseball field, which is known as one of the finest small college fields in the region, is named for Joe Ferebee, who, over 30 years at Pfeiffer, coached 42 players to major league contracts.
And the department of criminal justice, in collaboration with Pfeiffer’s department of accounting, is responsible for developing a new major in financial fraud and fraud examinations.